TheCable

Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), says he anticipated the supreme court’s decision to deny the opposition party access to the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) server.

In a judgment on Tuesday, the apex court held that the request to access the server could not be granted because it was brought after parties have joined issues on the matter.

But reacting through Eyitayo Jegede, his lawyer, Atiku said he and the party have done justice to their petition at the tribunal.

In a statement issued hours after the ruling, the former vice-president said the decision (regarding Tuesday’s ruling) was “anticipated”, adding that “proactive action had been taken” during the hearing of the petition.

He added that the issue of server was “thoroughly addressed” through witnesses and documents tendered and admitted during the presentation of the petition.

He further listed the issues for determination before the tribunal as follows:

• Whether the 2nd Respondent (Muhammadu Buhari) was at the time of the election not qualified to contest the election;
• Whether the 2nd Respondent (Muhammadu Buhari) submitted to the 1st Respondent (INEC) affidavits containing false information of a fundamental nature in aid of his qualification for the said election.
• Whether from the pleadings and evidence led it was established that the 2nd Respondent (Muhammadu Buhari) was elected by majority of lawful votes cast at the election.
• Whether the Presidential election conducted by the 1st Respondent (INEC) on the 23rd February 2019 was invalid by reasons of corrupt practices.
• Whether the presidential election conducted by the 1st Respondent (INEC) on the 23rd February 2019 was invalid by reasons of non compliance with the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) and the Electoral Guidelines 2019 and the manuals issued for the conduct of the elections.

Atiku and the PDP are challenging INEC’s declaration of President Muhammadu Buhari as winner of the presidential election.